Preview: Arsenal vs Brentford – stats, team news, line-ups
The Premier League title race heats up this weekend as Arsenal sets their sights on the top spot, hosting London rivals Brentford at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
The Gunners are in scintillating form and have firmly established themselves as contenders alongside Liverpool and Manchester City.
With their rivals facing off this weekend, Arsenal have a golden opportunity to climb the summit, at least temporarily.
However, they must first handle their business on home turf against a tricky Brentford side, and as always, fans can purchase Arsenal tickets on seatsnet.com at competitive prices.
The Gunners continued their demolition tour on Monday night, blitzing Sheffield United 6-0 at Bramall Lane, taking their goal tally in the league this year to a staggering 31 goals in just seven games.
The home faithful barely settled in their seats before the nightmare unfolded. Arsenal stormed to a four-goal lead by the 25th minute, leaving United fans with no choice but a dejected early exit.
Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, and a fortuitous own goal from Jayden Bogle had the visitors in complete control. Declan Rice added another before the break, putting the final nail in the coffin for the Blades.
Ben White added a sixth for Arsenal with his left foot, a rare sight for the defender, securing their joint-biggest away win in Premier League history.
This victory also etched their name in the record books as the first team in English football to win three consecutive away games by a margin of at least five goals following previous decimations of Burnley and West Ham United.
With Man City and Liverpool facing off this weekend (guaranteeing dropped points for at least one), Arsenal have a glorious opportunity to claim the top spot with an eighth consecutive Premier League win on Saturday.
No other team in the league comes close to matching Arsenal’s firepower. Their current tally of 68 goals and a staggering +45 goal difference leaves all 19 rivals in the dust.
Another ruthless display at home to their capital rivals would serve as the perfect preparation for their crucial Champions League second-leg clash against Porto next week.
Relief washed over Brentford fans as they snatched a dramatic 2-2 draw against Chelsea at the Brentford Community Stadium. This hard-fought point temporarily halted their three-game losing streak but exposed vulnerabilities ahead of a crucial clash with Arsenal.
Brentford’s recent away form has been a cause for concern, with a staggering seven defeats in their last eight Premier League outings on the road.
While they managed a solitary win at Wolverhampton Wanderers, their inability to close out games has cost them dearly, dropping a whopping 28 points from winning positions this season.
The Bees initially looked on course for a shock victory against the Blues. Mads Roerslev’s maiden Premier League goal and Yoane Wissa’s stunning bicycle kick overturned Nicolas Jackson’s early opener.
However, with just seven minutes remaining, Axel Disasi rose highest to head home an equaliser for Chelsea, shattering Brentford hearts.
Despite the disappointment of conceding late, Brentford can take solace in their resilience against Chelsea.
The point against the Blues also extends their cushion over the relegation zone to six points, albeit having played a game more than 18th-placed Luton Town.
However, their defensive concerns remain a worry, especially with set-piece specialists Arsenal up next.
Brentford’s last clash against Arsenal at the Gtech Community Stadium saw them succumb to a narrow 1-0 defeat.
In fact, the Bees have failed to win any of their previous five meetings with Arsenal (D1, L4), last getting the better of the Gunners back in August 2021 courtesy of goals from Christian Norgaard and Sergi Canos on either side of half time.
Match Preview
Arsenal hold a clear advantage over Brentford in recent meetings. They’ve emerged victorious in seven of their last ten encounters with the Bees (D2), with the only blemish being a defeat in the Bees’ historic first-ever Premier League match in 2021.
The Gunners have rewritten the record books in the early stages of the year. Not only are they undefeated in 2024, but they’ve also shattered scoring records.
With seven consecutive Premier League wins, they’ve become the first team in English top-flight history to score over 30 goals in the first seven games of a calendar year.
After a shaky end to 2023 that saw them register defeats against West Ham and Fulham, Arsenal have exacted revenge on their capital counterparts, thrashing Crystal Palace and West Ham by emphatic 5-0 and 6-0 scorelines, respectively.
Only the Gunners themselves in 1934/35 have ever scored 5+ goals in three consecutive London derby matches in English league history.
Leading the charge for Arsenal is their young prodigy, Bukayo Saka. He’s already directly involved in a staggering 21 Premier League goals this season (13 goals and eight assists).
He holds the unique distinction of being the only player this season to have exceeded 200 touches inside the opposition’s penalty box.
A trip to the Emirates Stadium rarely brings fond memories for Brentford fans, and history suggests this Saturday’s clash could be another forgettable encounter.
In their nine meetings across all competitions, Brentford have managed just one victory, a distant memory from April 1938.
Yoane Wissa will be aiming to rewrite some personal history. Looking to score in three consecutive Premier League games for the first time, his record against London teams bodes well.
He’s netted six goals in his last eight London derbies, though Arsenal are the only capital team he has faced without scoring.
Brentford’s season has mirrored a rollercoaster ride. A strong start saw them average 1.5 points per game in the first 11 matches (W4, D4, L3). However, their form has plummeted recently, with just ten points from their last 16 outings (averaging 0.6 per game – W3, D1, L12).
Their struggles are further highlighted by a league-worst statistic. Brentford have remarkably dropped 28 points from winning positions this season, the most in the Premier League since 2021/22.
This worrying trend will need addressing if the Bees are to avoid another disappointing defeat in north London.
Team News & Potential Line-ups
Arsenal face a potential selection headache for their upcoming Premier League clash against Brentford as Saka and Martinelli picked up knocks in their recent win at Bramall Lane.
While Arteta downplayed any major concerns, their withdrawal from the match has sparked worries amongst Gunners’ fans.
However, there are some positive news on the defensive front, with Takehiro Tomiyasu reportedly close to making his return to the squad, providing a much-needed boost to Arsenal’s backline.
As for Arsenal’s opponents, Brentford remain in the midst of a major injury crisis. They’ll be without a plethora of players, including Bryan Mbeumo, Kevin Schade, Ethan Pinnock, Aaron Hickey, Ben Mee, and Rico Henry, and Josh Dasilva.
Arsenal potential starting line-up:
(4-3-3): Aaron Ramsdale; Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Jakub Kiwior; Martin Odegaard, Jorginho, Declan Rice; Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard.
Brentford potential starting line-up:
(3-5-2): Mark Flekken; Zanka, Nathan Collins, Kristoffer Ajer; Mads Roerslev, Vitaly Janelt, Mathias Jensen, Christian Norgaard, Sergio Reguilon; Yoane Wissa, Ivan Toney.
